MLS Cup: Galaxy-RSL

Greetings from Seattle, where the skies have partially cleared after a stormy morning -- the first extended sunny period in several days. It's breezy and chilly, with temperatures dipping into the upper 30s tonight, but for now, the conditions are pleasant for MLS's grand finale. Between the turf and the wet surface, expect the pitch to play extremely fast.

Before we turn our attention to the match, a few things to look forward to this week:

*With the expansion draft set for Wednesday to supply 10 players to Philadelphia Union, clubs must submit their 11-man protected roster lists to league headquarters by Monday afternoon.

*As we told you exclusively a few days ago, New York is ready to hire a new sporting director: Erik Soler, an executive at Norwegian club Start and a former player agent.

*D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen is finalizing paperwork to make his retirement official, so unless he has a last-second change of heart, an official announcement will happen as early as Tuesday.

*DCU has spoken to five or six head coaching candidates (some in formal interviews, others in casual conversations) and plans to explore overseas options as well before making a final decision, club president Kevin Payne said.

*Chicago will soon make a decision whether to offer Coach Denis Hamlett a new contract. The guess here is that he will not return. The craziest rumor I heard was Hamlett will be let go and Jesse Marsch, a former Fire regular, retires at Chivas USA and immediately steps into the Chicago coaching role (a la Jason Kreis at RSL). Just a wild, unfounded rumor that was quickly dismissed by Insider contacts.

*Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid (pneumonia) will remain hospitalized for at least another night.

My heart says Galaxy win, becuase when Beckham and Donovan are both going balls out, they, to me, are still the two best players in this league. But, I know Gonzalez and Berhalter move about as well as a glacier and Andre the Giant, and I know that Findley is fast as most dream of being, and Movsyssian can't move well enough too. That said, I'm predicting LA to win, scoring 3, and RSL finding 1 or 2. Should be plenty fun enough either way.

Please, soccer gods, no OT and PK's, let's settle it in 90. I'm actually going to a soccer neophytes house to watch and expect they'll blanch at Extra time as the clock approaches midnight. On a work night.

No Kovalenko or Andy Williams in the starting lineups. Interesting. I look at LA's lineup as more offensively minded. It should be a good one. I'll say 3-1 LA, although I'll probably be pulling for RSL to win.

Movsisyan has to take that first-time rather than letting the defender get to him. it's a debatable call for a penalty. RSL looking better this half - an equalizer may be in the cards, which would set up a very exciting finish.

a bad break for the Galaxy with the carom to Findley (and now the Ricketts sub), but the defense didn't do themselves any favors. anyone notice that it was Beckham who tracked back to help and was closest to Findley when he scored? he seems especially motivated.

MOTM: Andy Wiliams!!! Party time! Had a great season MLS season with so many of you. Thanks for the laughs. If you find yourself taking me too seriously and getting pissed just chill. I come here for kicks, and I don't mean any real disrespect unless I really do. Looking forward to next season, and I hope some of us are able to connect next season.

Congratulations RSL. You played an attractive brand of soccer, with quality players. You had your downs, and you had your ups. You played your best at the biggest times, and earned a pretty new trophy, and for me, a star above your crest.

Also, a special Congratulations to Andy Williams. I know this has been a terrible year personally for him, and he's deserved it with the fights he's been going through.

Ooopsss.Wow. Glad I watched, that was fun. I wanted A. Williams to get the goods too, but after he fell down at the end of extra time I'm not surprised. He's still a big part man. Lots of love there for that guy, and his family.
Good work RSL. Wow.

Saw the game, missed opp from both teams but overall RSL dominated and won.
Garber will be rolling in his bed crying cause Becks didnt raise a trophy. Which shows once again that this play-off system doesn't make sense when you have an under .500 team who sneaked into the play-offs and wins the championship.

I thought it was a well played and well reffed game. Yeah, I guess Nicky has to be MOTM, but Beckerman was everywhere and Mathis was pure class with his probing, #10-like passing. I also thought DeLaGarza looked great during his few minutes. I would love for DCU to be able to pluck several players off those rosters!

Landycakes PK disaster is what I will remember most about this match, but you have to hand it to RSL, they played with more heart and were the better team over 120 minutes, thus making them worthy champions of MLS despite their regular season record.

Overall a good night for MLS, the PK shootout surley attracted a lot of viewers since the NFL game had ended minutes earlier and many changed to ESPN expecting to see SportsCenter. Dramatic finish, and I think MLS took big step forward this year as a whole. Congrats to RSL on their first championship!

Gotta admit, that PK battle was pretty riveting. It flipped the whole underdog idea on it's head, with a replacement GK against Stone Cold Nick Rimando. Columbus are the real league champions. All RSL won was a tournament no different than the US Open Cup or Carling Cup.

so the season is done! I wonder what next year holds for MLS. Im def going to try to make it out to Philly and NY for DC's away games. New venues!

and guess what!!!

A NEW KIT FOR DC!

lol

This should make this play-off system into a small post-season tourney on its own. Keep a single table, best record is overall champ and have the top 12 teams battle out for spot in the champions league play. The last four teams will not be able to play in the tourney so we would consider them "regulated" meaning who ever is at the bottom gets first choice in the draft.

Watching Donovan blow a PK in tonight's final was nothing new to me -- I still remember seeing a picture of Pachuca keeper Miguel Calero waving an "oh no you don't" finger at Donovan after he missed a spot kick in the first SuperLiga final in 2007.

Kevin Payne exploring oversees options is a good sign, and a signal that they are not sold on Richie Williams. I feel the same way. I think Richie Williams would be a disaster at the helm of DC United. I would rather keep Soehn than hire Richie Williams.